Funding secured for four Graduate Apprentices

Campbeltown charity and social enterprise Inspiralba has secured funding for a small pilot scheme to enable community enterprises to employ four Graduate Apprentices – two per year – between 2023-2025.

 

Graduate Apprenticeships provide an opportunity to study an honours degree whilst working.

 

The funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with support via Argyll and Bute Council, will cover the students' first year salary costs, as well as oncosts and a small IT budget.

 

There has already been positive buy-in from development trusts and community land organisations offering to support these posts for the full term.

 

Argyll-based community and social enterprises currently employing young people via the Graduate Apprenticeship programme include: Tarbert Harbour Authority, with a third year business management Graduate Apprentice currently studying with Strathclyde University; Fyne Futures, with a second year Graduate Apprentice in accountancy studying with Glasgow Caledonian University; and Inspiralba, with a first year Graduate Apprentice, currently studying business management with Glasgow Caledonian University.

 

“The Graduate Apprenticeship offers our business the opportunity to increase skills and capacity, whilst at the same time supporting a young person to build their career and qualifications,” said Ailsa Clark, managing director at Inspiralba.

 

Leah McGuigan, Inspiralba's first year Graduate Apprentice, added: “I am really glad that I am able to study for an honours degree whilst also learning in the workplace.

 

“I go up to Glasgow for two-three days every six weeks and study remotely, equivalent to a day a week, but can base some of my studies on my experience at work.”

 

The Graduate Apprenticeship model has been identified as a valuable access and progression route which can assist in building capacity in the community-led sector, whilst also providing qualification opportunities which can attract and retain young people.

 

This is in the context of significant depopulation challenges, with outmigration and demographic change being a priority for the community planning partnership.

 

At the same time as the population increased across Scotland, it decreased in Argyll and Bute, most notably by 34 per cent in the 25-44 age group.

 

Depopulation and demographic change continue to be a major issue for many rural and

 

island communities in the West of Scotland and studies have highlighted the impact of young people having to leave to study being a factor for ongoing depopulation and demographic change.

 

Meanwhile, skills shortages are a major issue for many businesses struggling to recruit and retain staff post-Brexit and with an ageing workforce. There is also a greater recognition, post-Covid, of the value of community and natural assets.

 

The Graduate Apprenticeship model also ensures better inclusion; this is particularly important at a time of cost of living crisis, with rising costs for student accommodation and living away from home being an additional financial burden and barrier to further and higher education for many families, or young people starting their working career with significant debt – making access to housing in rural areas even more of a challenge.